********************************************************
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (September 21) the September 2009 issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics (HKMDS).
In this issue, three feature articles entitled "Trade in Services of Hong Kong", "Socio-economic Characteristics of Hong Kong Residents Making Personal Travel to the Mainland of China, 2008" and "Patent Statistics for Hong Kong, 1998 to 2008" are included.
"Trade in Services of Hong Kong"
With the structural change in the Hong Kong economy, the importance of services industries has been on the rise. Being an externally oriented economy, Hong Kong is an important centre not only for trade in goods, but also for trade in services (TIS). TIS in Hong Kong has been maintaining observable growth in recent years. In response to the demand for statistics on TIS, C&SD has started releasing detailed TIS statistics by type of services and country/territory on an annual basis since 2002.
This feature article gives a brief account of the framework for compiling TIS statistics in Hong Kong and presents the major figures for 2007.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Trade in Services Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel. : 2802 1350).
"Socio-economic Characteristics of Hong Kong Residents Making Personal Travel to the Mainland of China, 2008"
In 2008, Hong Kong residents made a total of 46.5 million personal trips to the mainland of China (the Mainland). Personal travel covers travel in package tour mode and non-package tour mode for purposes such as holiday-making, visits to friends and relatives, and attending recreational and cultural programmes.
Analysed by sex, the proportion of personal trips made by males (53.7%) was higher. Analysed by age, the highest proportion of personal trips was made by residents in the age group 50-59 (23.6%).
Among the trips in respect of personal travel by Hong Kong residents to the Mainland, 25.7 million person-trips were made by employed persons. Of this, the highest proportion was made by residents employed in the wholesale, retail and import and export trades, restaurants and hotels sector (27.3%).
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the National Income Section (1)3, C&SD (Tel. : 2582 4643).
"Patent Statistics for Hong Kong, 1998 to 2008"
The rapid development in science and technology has changed our lives in many aspects. Among the science and technology statistical indicators, patent statistics provide a measure of technical progress and inventive activity of an economy. This feature article describes the key trends and developments in patent activities in Hong Kong during 1998 to 2008.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Science and Technology Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel. : 2887 5138).
Published in bilingual form, the HKMDS is a compact volume of official statistics containing 140 tables. It collects up-to-date statistical series on various aspects of the social and economic situation of Hong Kong. Topics include population and vital events; labour; external trade; industrial production; land, housing, building and construction; transport, communications and tourism; public accounts, money and finance; prices; commerce; social conditions; energy; and national income and Balance of Payments. For selected key statistical items, over 20 charts depicting the annual trend in the past decade and quarterly or monthly trend in the recent two years are also available.
Users can download the publication free of charge at the website of C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/products_and_services/products/publications/statistical_report/general_statistical_digest/index.jsp).
Print version of the publication is available for sale at HK$142 per issue. Purchase can be done in person at the Publications Unit of C&SD (Address : 19/F Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai; Tel. : 2582 3025) or through mail order by returning a completed order form which can be downloaded from the C&SD Website (www.censtatd.gov.hk/products_and_services/other_services/provision_of_stat/mail_ordering_of_publications/index.jsp). Print version of the publication is also available for sale online at the Government Bookstore of the Information Services Department (www.bookstore.gov.hk).
Enquiries about the contents of the publication can be directed to the General Statistics Section (1)B of C&SD (Tel. : 2582 4738).
Ends/Monday, September 21, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:31
NNNN
